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Dual SIM cards are the norm in prepaid phones coming out of China these days

By Ali Dayekh

You would have to be blind deaf and dumb not to see all of the dual SIM cell phones coming out of China these days.

After no contract and a lower price it’s the main reason for the enduring popularity of the not quite Hiphone against even the iPhone.

Even despite the not quite iPhone OS and sometimes questionable quality.

But what does does dual SIM mean, what is it capable of and how can you best use it.

When looking at a a dual SIM phone you really need to take into consideration two things:

1. Dual SIM
2. Dual Standby

What Is Dual SIM And Dual Standby?

Dual SIM

Dual SIM is simply a single cellphone with two SIM card slots. Simple!

Dual SIM essentially refers to a phone that can hold and utilize two SIM cards in the same GSM cellular phone.

It doesn’t matter if they’re dual SIM TV phones or any other dual SIM phones as long as they take two SIM cards and read them, then they are dual SIM mobile phones.

Just because a cell phone can take two SIM cards, it doesn’t mean that both SIM cards are working. You need the dual standby function for that (More about that below).

However this doesn’t mean that having two SIM cards isn’t very useful for:

• Keeping all of your personal and business contacts separate while keeping them in the same place
  
• Keeping two separate numbers so that you are always in touch
  
• Traveling between country to country
  

Dual Standby

A dual stand by phone is different to a dual SIM phone in that has one CPU but, will actively monitor both networks at the same time.

While dual SIM cell phones will put two phone numbers into the same phone you need to physically switch between them by going into the settings menu and making the switch.

Some phones, like the Voyager (CVDQ-M50), can handle two phone networks at the same time

However, dual standby phones can actively switch between the two without any input from you.

How Does Dual SIM And Dual Standby Work?

Dual SIM

A dual SIM phone always has two SIM card slots and, occasionally, two CPUs.

Phones that have two CPUs are few and far between. In fact, even though we have sold hundreds of cell phones and looked at thousands more we have only seen one example of a dual CPU phone.

A phone that has dual SIM slots without having a dual standby function will require you to go into settings and change it from SIM 1 to SIM 2 and vice versa.

There are some older forms of dual SIM available where the second SIM card slot is just another place, besides your wallet, to keep your spare SIM card.

Dual Standby

With Dual Standby phones there is an electronic switch in the phone which will automatically switch between SIM cards depending on which one is getting a call from somewhere.

If a second call should happen to arrive when you are already talking on the phone one of two things will happen:

1) If you have call secretary software, or your carrier has an online call secretary service then if you’re on the phone and another call comes in then it’ll be shipped to voicemail.

2) If no such software or option exists on your GSM dual mobile then the other caller will just be told that your line is busy.

How Can I Use A Dual SIM/Dual Standby Phone?

Making a call

Insert the number you wish to dial, and select SIM 1 or SIM 2

Sending A Text Message

Select the options icon and select SIM 1 or SIM 2

Saving A Number To A SIM

to store a new contact, insert their number, tap the “add contact” option and select either SIM cards or the mobile phone memory itself

Check out our fantastic range of Dual SIM and Dual Standby phones and see the future of cell phones right now.